Athens Striders Club Dominates Three Summer Circuit Races With Fastest Times

The Athens Striders Club finished first in the July 5 relay event around Lycabettus Hill, beating 42 other teams with a combined time of 1 hour 52 minutes.

The result follows a pattern that began in late June when the same squad won the 5-kilometre loop at Pedion Areos. Club organisers say the streak reflects steady growth in membership and a training schedule that starts at 6 a.m. three mornings a week.

Most sessions begin at the small car park on the south side of Pedion Areos before moving to the paved paths inside the National Garden. The group also uses the flat stretch of waterfront between the Faliro rowing centre and the old Olympic Beach Volleyball arena for longer tempo runs on weekends.

Numbers Behind the Results

The club now lists 182 paid members, up from 97 in July 2024. Weekly training costs 8 euros for non-members, while the full summer package of twelve sessions runs 65 euros. Entry lists for the next event, a 10-kilometre time trial on July 19 starting at Omonia Square, close at midnight on July 15.

Coach records show average finishing times for the club’s mixed relay teams have dropped 11 minutes since the same period last year. Those figures come from official timing chips supplied by the Hellenic Athletics Federation.

Next Races and How to Join

Runners who want to try out can meet the group at 6 a.m. on Tuesday at the Pedion Areos entrance opposite Exarcheia Square. The July 19 time trial starts at 7 a.m. from Omonia and finishes at the Zappeion. Registration opens online through the club site at 10 a.m. today.